The candidate filing period in West Virginia has officially closed, and just like that, the field is set. Maybe this thinking is the reason behind my desire to scream, “Play Ball” once closed. Points to ponder.
This primary election is a little more than three months away. Names are now final. Ballots are taking shape. Before long, yard signs will soon sprout along rural roads and neighborhood corners. Campaign mailers will begin filling mailboxes. Television and social media ads will follow close behind.
The question for voters is not whether the election season has begun. It has. The real question is what each of us plans to do between now and the primary to get familiar with the candidates asking for our vote.
Every election cycle brings a familiar refrain. Some voters say there are too many races. Some say they do not know the candidates. Some say politics is confusing, noisy, or exhausting. Some say all three and more. Those feelings are understandable, especially in a state like West Virginia, where ballots can include everything from local committees and boards, to legislative seats that cover large geographic areas, to statewide races, and of course, the amendments.
Still, the filing deadline is an important civic milestone. It represents the moment when responsibility quietly shifts from the candidates to the voters. Candidates have stepped forward and declared their intentions. Now it is up to the electorate to decide how seriously to engage.
For many voters, engagement starts with the most basic step. The first responsibility is learning who is running. That may sound simple, but it matters more than people realize. Too often, voters walk into the polling place recognizing only one or two names. Sometimes those names are familiar because of a last name, a party label, or a sign seen repeatedly at a busy intersection. Familiarity is not the same as understanding. This is especially true while voters in the formerly multi-member districts learn who represents them in the House of Delegates single-member districts.
West Virginia’s primary elections have in many cycles determined who will ultimately hold office. In many districts, the primary is more competitive than the general election. That makes the weeks ahead especially important. Decisions made in May can shape public policy for years. This year could be different.
Many ballot slots are filled. Many of these candidates are credible, and their ideas are worthwhile of being heard. Will West Virginia follow Virginia and Texas? Time will tell.
Getting familiar with candidates does not require expertise or insider knowledge. It requires curiosity and a willingness to spend a little time paying attention. One of the easiest places to start is with the official candidate list published by the Secretary of State. Seeing all the names laid out provides clarity about how many races are on the ballot and which offices directly affect your community.
From there, voters can begin to dig a little deeper. Campaign websites and social media pages offer insight into how candidates describe themselves and their priorities. While campaign messaging is polished by design, it still reveals what candidates believe voters want to hear and what issues they emphasize.
Listen to River Talk with Steve Novotney Mondays through Fridays from 3 pm to 6 pm. He will have every candidate on live. He will ask the questions.
Local news coverage remains one of the most valuable tools available. West Virginia’s journalists attend candidate forums, report on filing announcements, and ask questions that voters may not think to ask themselves. Reading multiple sources helps provide balance and context, especially in contested races.
Candidate forums and town halls are another underused resource. These events allow voters to hear directly from candidates in their own words. How a candidate answers a question can be just as revealing as the answer itself. Do they speak in specifics or generalities? Do they acknowledge complexity or avoid it? Do they show respect for opposing views? Do they give one answer at one event and a completely different answer the following week?
For legislative and local races, understanding a candidate’s background is particularly important. Many of these offices involve decisions that affect schools, infrastructure, utilities, health care access, and economic development. Voters should ask themselves what experience, perspective, or skills a candidate brings to the role.
Lately, candidates seem to like to use the moniker, “I’ve been a job creator,” because they believe that labels them as different from traditional politicians. In my opinion, while I have created jobs, it is not the role of elected officials to create jobs. Success in a boardroom or on a field should not determine someone’s electability.
Voting history can also be instructive when incumbents are on the ballot. Past votes provide a record that goes beyond campaign promises. For challengers, endorsements and community involvement may offer clues about priorities and values.
Equally important is understanding the office itself. Voters sometimes judge candidates based on issues outside the scope of the position they seek. Taking time to understand what an office can and cannot do leads to more informed choices and more realistic expectations.
The next three months will move quickly. Campaigns will try to simplify choices into slogans and sound bites. That is their job. The voter’s job is different. It is to slow things down just enough to ask questions and seek understanding.
Democracy works best when voters participate with intention. That does not mean agreeing on every issue or supporting the same candidates. It means showing up informed and engaged.
West Virginia has a proud tradition of community involvement and civic responsibility. The closing of the candidate filing period is a reminder that elections are not abstract events. They are decisions made by neighbors about the future of their towns, counties, and state.
With the primary just over three months away, there is time. Time to read. Time to listen. Time to learn. The candidates have made their choice to run.
Now it is up to each of us to decide how well we will get to know them before we cast our vote.
